Train Tours Through National Parks: 17 Parks You Can Reach (or Ride Into) by Rail

Our picks

• Best overall: Grand Canyon Railway. You ride straight into one of America’s most-visited parks and skip the queue of cars at the entrance gate.
• Best “end of the world” (and best short heritage ride): the End of the World Train, into Tierra del Fuego National Park.
• Best wildlife: Alaska Railroad Denali Star. On a budget, the Madaraka Express crosses the Tsavo corridor for KSh 1,500 in Economy (about US$11.50), according to Kenya Railways’ official FAQ.
• Best luxury: Rocky Mountaineer through Banff, in GoldLeaf service.
• Best for families: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. It’s cheap, short, and you can take your bike.
• Best budget: Cuyahoga Valley ($25), the Madaraka Express (KSh 1,500) or the Settle–Carlisle line.
• Best car-free multi-day trip: Amtrak’s Empire Builder to Glacier National Park.

What counts as a “national park train tour”?

A national park train tour is any rail trip whose main purpose is to reach, cross or ride inside a national park. These trips fall into three types, and knowing which type you’re booking avoids disappointment:

• Into the park: the tracks end or run inside park boundaries. Examples are the End of the World Train, the Grand Canyon Railway, Cuyahoga Valley and Snowdon.
• Through the park: the train crosses the park but you mostly watch from the window. Examples are Rocky Mountaineer in Banff, VIA Rail in Jasper, the TranzAlpine, Settle–Carlisle and Kuranda.
• To the gateway: the train stops in a town at the park edge, and you need a shuttle or bus to get in. Examples are Denali Depot, the Glacier stations, Moab, Seward and Zernez.

Where we say “near” or “gateway” below, we mean it literally.

Featured: the End of the World Train into Tierra del Fuego National Park (Argentina)

The End of the World Train (Tren del Fin del Mundo) is the world’s southernmost operating railway. It’s a narrow-gauge steam line that runs from a station outside Ushuaia into Tierra del Fuego National Park, which makes it one of the few trains anywhere that takes you inside a national park.

Fact box: End of the World Train

• Park: Tierra del Fuego National Park (Administración de Parques Nacionales)
• How the train relates to the park: Into. The line enters the park and ends at Estación Parque Nacional.
• Route: Estación Fin del Mundo (about 8 km from Ushuaia) → Cascada La Macarena stop → Estación Parque Nacional. The track runs about 7 km beside the Río Pipo through Fuegian forest.
• Duration: About 1h45 round trip, including stops.
• Departures: 09:30, 12:00 and 15:00 from 1 September to 30 April, and 09:45, 12:15 and 15:00 from 1 May to 31 August. Within each time slot, trains leave every 15 minutes.
• Fares (October 2026–March 2027, official): Tourist class ARS 80,000 adult (13+) and ARS 40,000 child (4–12); Premium ARS 250,000 adult and ARS 125,000 child. Under-4s ride free. A VIP class and charters are also offered.
• Park fee (from 1 June 2026): General rate ARS 40,000 (this applies to foreign visitors) and ARS 18,000 for Argentine nationals. It is not included in the train ticket and is mandatory to board.
• Minimum total per foreign adult: ARS 120,000 (Tourist + park fee) or ARS 290,000 (Premium + park fee).
• Season: Year-round. The train runs in snow, and winter rides are magical.
• Booking tip: Check in at the station 45 minutes before departure to get your physical ticket. If you haven’t checked in 10 minutes before departure, the seats can be given away.
• Suits: History lovers, families, travellers with limited mobility, and cruise passengers with half a day.
• Verdict: It’s short, but it has a strong story behind it and it’s the most atmospheric way into the park. The ride alone covers only a small corner of the park, so pair it with a minibus to Lapataia Bay and Lake Acigami (Lago Roca).

Why it matters: the line follows the last stretch of the “Tren de los Presos”, the prisoners’ train. Convicts from Ushuaia’s penal colony, whose first prisoners arrived in 1884, used it to haul timber. The train has a 500 mm gauge, a 10-language audio guide, and a stop at La Macarena waterfall where you can get off for photos.

How to see the rest of the park: the train ends well short of the park’s highlights: Lapataia Bay (the end of Ruta 3), Lake Acigami and the Senda Costera. That’s why most visitors book a train and park combo tour, where a minibus meets you at Estación Parque Nacional and carries on through the park. The National Park & End of the World Train Tour (our breakdown →) is the most-reviewed one on GetYourGuide, rated 4.5 from more than 1,100 reviews, with the train as a booking option ($124 with the train for one adult on 8 October 2026). Our park and train page compares the others. If you only want the ride, the End of the World Train Tickets, Turista Class listing sells the ticket on its own, from $50.

• New to the train? Start with our End of the World Train guide.
• For every fare category, child and retiree rates, and how to pay the park fee: End of the World Train tickets and prices.
• Flying in from the capital: getting to Tierra del Fuego from Buenos Aires.

Currency note: Argentina’s peso moves fast. The official booking engine can show prices in USD; check it on the day you book rather than relying on a fixed conversion.

Train trips to national parks in the USA

Can you take a train into Grand Canyon National Park?

Yes. The Grand Canyon Railway is the classic US national park train tour. It has run the 65 miles from Williams, Arizona, to Grand Canyon Village since 17 September 1901, and it ends at the 1910 Grand Canyon Depot, which the railway’s fact sheet describes as “just 200 yards from the edge of the South Rim” and “the last operating log depot in the United States”.

Fact box: Grand Canyon Railway

• Park: Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim)
• Relation: Into (the depot is in the Historic Village, beside El Tovar)
• Duration: 2h15 each way. The train leaves Williams at 9:30 am, arrives at 11:45 am and departs the canyon at 3:30 pm, giving you 3+ hours at the rim. In November and December everything runs an hour earlier.
• 2026 fares (official, adult 16+ / child 2–15):
  • Pullman $69.98 / $37.98 (March–October, no air-conditioning)
  • Coach $89.98 / $57.98
  • First Class $172.98 / $132.98
  • Luxury Dome $242.98 (adults only)
  • Observation Dome and Luxury Parlor are also offered.
• Deal: For the Route 66 centennial, Coach Class is $66 in 2026 with code ROUTE66 (blackout dates apply).
• Packages: Bundles of train, the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams and lodging inside the park.
• Season: Daily except 25 December.
• Suits: First-timers, families, and anyone who hates parking.
• Verdict: Our best overall pick. Three hours is enough for the rim walk and the free NPS shuttles, but not for a hike. If you can, stay overnight in the park and come back on a later train.

Booking tip: mixed classes are often allowed, so you can ride the dome one way only. According to the Congressional Research Service, the Interior Department’s new fees took effect on 1 January 2026: at 11 parks, including Grand Canyon, non-US residents aged 16+ pay “an additional $100 per person” on top of the standard entrance fee unless they hold the $250 non-resident annual pass. Check whether your booking includes park entry.

Which national park has a railroad running through it?

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) runs on a 26-mile line that the National Park Service bought in 1987 and leases to the railroad. It’s the best-known example of a US national park with a working excursion train running through its heart.

Fact box: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

• Park: Cuyahoga Valley National Park (between Cleveland and Akron)
• Relation: Through
• Duration: 2-hour Express or 4-hour Classic (24 miles) on the National Park Scenic excursion
• Price: $25–$38 per person
• Stations: Rockside, Peninsula Depot and Akron Northside
• Season: Year-round, on a seasonal schedule
• Extras: Café car. An NPS audio tour plays along the Cuyahoga River (look for eagles, herons and beavers). The Explorer programme lets you bike or hike the Towpath Trail one way and ride the train back. There’s a wheelchair-lift ADA car.
• Suits: Families, cyclists and budget travellers.
• Verdict: Best for families and best budget. It’s gentle and low-key rather than spectacular, and that’s the appeal.

How do you get to Denali National Park by train?

Take the Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star. It runs daily in summer between Anchorage and Fairbanks, stopping at Talkeetna and the Denali Park Depot near the park entrance, where hotel shuttles meet the train.

Fact box: Alaska Railroad Denali Star

• Park: Denali National Park & Preserve
• Relation: To the park entrance (Denali Depot)
• Season: 13 May–17 September 2026
• 2026 one-way adult fares (official brochure), Adventure / GoldStar:
  • Anchorage–Denali $205 / $393
  • Anchorage–Fairbanks $294 / $553
  • Fairbanks–Denali $102 / $207
  • Value-season rates apply in May and September.
• GoldStar: Upper-level glass-dome seats, an outdoor viewing deck, meals, and two complimentary adult drinks.
• Packages: “Denali Getaways” Anchorage–Denali–Anchorage with two nights in Denali Park cost $879 Adventure or $1,375 GoldStar.
• Suits: Wildlife watchers and first-time Alaska visitors.
• Verdict: Best wildlife. GoldStar earns its extra cost on the scenic sections.

Inside the park: private cars are restricted on most of the Denali Park Road, so plan on NPS-concessioner transit or tour buses. Check the NPS website for current road status before you book.

Can you take a train to Kenai Fjords National Park?

You can reach its gateway. The Alaska Railroad’s Coastal Classic runs Anchorage–Seward. Seward is where Kenai Fjords boat cruises leave from, and the park itself is best seen from the water.

Fact box: Coastal Classic

• Relation: Gateway (Seward)
• Season: 15 May–13 September 2026
• Schedule: Leaves Anchorage 6:45 am, arrives Seward 11:20 am. Leaves Seward 6:00 pm, arrives Anchorage 10:15 pm.
• 2026 fares (adult): Adventure $133 one way / $226 return; GoldStar $277 / $470.
• Verdict: One of the best rail-and-cruise days in the US. Book a glacier and wildlife cruise that fits around the train times.

Can you take Amtrak to Glacier National Park?

Yes. Amtrak’s Empire Builder (Chicago–Seattle/Portland) runs along Glacier’s southern boundary. It stops at East Glacier Park (seasonal, April–October, across from the 1913 Glacier Park Lodge), Essex and West Glacier (the historic Belton depot at the park’s west entrance), plus Whitefish.

Fact box: Amtrak Empire Builder to Glacier

• Relation: Along the boundary + gateway stations
• Price: About $16 Whitefish–East Glacier (about 2 hours). Long-haul fares are dynamic.
• Onboard: National Park Service “Trails & Rails” volunteers give commentary on some summer segments.
• 2026 access rules: Glacier dropped its vehicle-reservation system for 2026. Instead, a ticketed Logan Pass shuttle started on 1 July, booked through Recreation.gov on a 60-day rolling window with a $1 processing fee. Glacier is also a surcharge park for non-residents.
• Suits: Car-free travellers and lodge lovers.
• Verdict: Best car-free multi-day trip. Arrive by train, stay in a historic railway-built lodge, and use the shuttles and concessioner tours.

Can you take a luxury train to Arches National Park?

You can take one to its gateway. Rocky Mountaineer’s US route, Rockies to the Red Rocks (now marketed under the Canyon Spirit name), runs Denver–Moab over two days with a hotel night in Glenwood Springs. Moab sits about five miles from Arches and close to Canyonlands.

Fact box: Rockies to the Red Rocks

• Relation: Gateway (Moab)
• 2026 price: Rail-only from about $1,723 per person (Signature). The Premier upgrade adds about $600.
• Season: April to November 2026 (Saturday departures from Moab, 11 April–21 November)
• Packages: Multi-day tours add guided time in the parks. For example, Tauck’s 8-day Salt Lake City–Denver trip includes a guided Arches excursion and costs from $7,990.
• Verdict: Canyon scenery you can’t see from the highway, but this is a gateway trip, not a ride inside the parks.

What about the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad?

It runs alongside the park, not into it. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad starts in Bryson City, North Carolina, “on the edge of” Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Its Nantahala Gorge excursion (44 miles, 4.5 hours) follows Fontana Lake into the Nantahala Gorge, which is national forest rather than national park. Adult fares for 2026 run from $63.72 (Coach) to $145.80 (First Class, 21+). It’s a fun ride, but don’t book it expecting a train ride into the national park itself.

Other US rail-and-park options (check before you book)

• Amtrak Southwest Chief: stops at Flagstaff, about 30 miles from Williams. Arrange a connection there to the Grand Canyon Railway.
• Amtrak California Zephyr: crosses the Colorado Rockies to Glenwood Springs. It’s scenic, but it isn’t a direct train to a national park.
• Durango & Silverton: spectacular, but it runs through San Juan National Forest, not a national park.
• Steamtown National Historic Site (Scranton, Pennsylvania): an NPS unit about railroads. It’s ideal for rail fans, but it’s a historic site rather than a scenic park.
• Packages: Amtrak Vacations, Vacations By Rail and Great Rail Journeys sell national park train vacations that bundle rail, hotels and guided park touring. Compare what’s included (park fees, shuttles, guided time) before paying a premium.

Canada: national park rail tours through the Rockies

Does Rocky Mountaineer go through Banff National Park?

Yes. The First Passage to the West route (Vancouver–Kamloops–Banff/Lake Louise, 2 days) crosses Yoho and Banff National Parks via the Spiral Tunnels and the Continental Divide. Overnights are in hotels, not on the train.

Fact box: Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to the West

• Relation: Through
• 2026 rail-only price (Vancouver→Banff, per person): SilverLeaf from CAD $2,289–$2,404 in April (authorised resellers canadarail.ca and Key West Travel & Tours) to $3,149 in September; GoldLeaf from CAD $3,269 to $4,219. Add 5% GST, and confirm with Rocky Mountaineer.
• Season: April–October. April and October are cheapest.
• Classes: GoldLeaf gives you a bilevel dome, a lower-deck dining room and an outdoor viewing platform. SilverLeaf gives you a single-level coach with oversized windows and at-seat meals.
• Other routes: Journey through the Clouds runs to Jasper.
• Suits: Bucket-list travellers and celebrations.
• Verdict: Best luxury. You’re paying for service and daylight scenery, and it delivers.

Can you take VIA Rail to Jasper National Park?

Yes. VIA Rail’s Canadian (Toronto–Vancouver, twice weekly, all year) stops in the town of Jasper inside Jasper National Park. One-way fares between Jasper and Vancouver start at CAD $148 in Economy, $497 for a Sleeper Plus berth and $799 for a roomette. It’s the budget alternative to Rocky Mountaineer, and the dome cars are excellent. VIA also runs a Jasper–Prince Rupert train; check current schedules.

Europe: national park train tours

Can you take a train up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)?

Yes. The Snowdon Mountain Railway (opened 1896) climbs 4.7 miles from Llanberis to the summit inside Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. It’s one of the few trains in Europe that goes deep into a national park and all the way to its highest point.

Fact box: Snowdon Mountain Railway

• Relation: Into
• Duration: About an hour up, about 30 minutes at the summit, and an hour down
• 2026 fares: Diesel summit return £45 off-peak / £48 peak. Heritage Steam summit £62 off-peak / £72 peak.
• Season: Summit services from 1 May (weather permitting). Diesel runs to 25 October; steam runs 4 May–16 October.
• Verdict: Book weeks ahead for July and August. Trains turn back below the summit in bad weather.

Which train goes through the Yorkshire Dales National Park?

The Settle–Carlisle line. Northern’s trains stop inside the national park at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead (for the viaduct), Dent (England’s highest main-line station), Garsdale and Kirkby Stephen. An off-peak day return from Leeds to Carlisle is about £38.90. It’s a normal scheduled service, not a tourist train, so it costs a fraction of a heritage-railway fare. Best budget pick in Europe.

Does the North Yorkshire Moors Railway run through the national park?

Yes. Steam and heritage diesel trains run 24 miles from Pickering to Whitby “through the heart of” North York Moors National Park. In 2026 the full line is sold as an adult Day Rover at £38.50 (School Holiday Saver dates) or £48.95 (Regular dates); a Gift Aid version costs more. Full Pickering–Whitby service resumed on 1 June 2026 after repairs to Bridge 42.

Can you reach the Swiss National Park by train?

Yes, at the gateway. Rhaetian Railway trains run to Zernez, about 2h20 from Zurich with a change at Landquart via the Vereina tunnel. The National Park Centre is a 5–10 minute walk from the station. Entry to the park is free; the visitor-centre exhibition costs CHF 9 for adults. Postbuses take you to the trailheads. The famous Bernina Express does not go into the park.

Rest of the world: train trips to national parks

Can you take a train through Tsavo National Park?

Yes. Kenya’s Madaraka Express (Standard Gauge Railway) runs from Nairobi to Mombasa in 4.5–5 hours through the corridor between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks.

Fact box: Madaraka Express

• 2026 fares (Kenya Railways official FAQ): Economy KSh 1,500 (about US$11.50), First Class KSh 4,500 (about US$34.50), Premium KSh 12,000 (about US$92) one way or KSh 20,000 return
• Tip: Travellers report the best wildlife chances from the left side heading to Mombasa. Sightings vary; some days it’s only a few gazelles.
• Verdict: Best-value wildlife ride anywhere. It’s a transport train, not a safari, so add a game drive from Voi.

Does the train to Machu Picchu go through a national park?

Technically it’s a “Historic Sanctuary”, not a national park. PeruRail and Inca Rail share the track from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (about 1h40) down the Urubamba gorge inside the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary. In 2026, budget classes (PeruRail Expedition, Inca Rail Voyager) cost about US$60–90 one way, and the Belmond Hiram Bingham costs about US$500–650+. Prices are dynamic, so book early for morning trains.

Is the Kuranda Scenic Railway in a national park?

Yes. The 1891 Cairns–Kuranda line climbs through Barron Gorge National Park, part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and stops at the Barron Falls lookout. A Heritage Class adult ticket is about A$58 one way (A$87 return), and Gold Class is about A$115 one way. The classic combination is train up, Skyrail cableway down. Great for families.

Does the TranzAlpine go through Arthur’s Pass National Park?

Yes. KiwiRail’s TranzAlpine covers 223 km from Christchurch to Greymouth in about 4h55 (leaving 08:15) and stops at Arthur’s Pass village in the middle of the national park. Scenic Class Christchurch–Greymouth costs NZ$239 off-peak (July–September 2026), NZ$280 from October 2026 to January 2027 and NZ$299 at peak (February–March 2027). Christchurch–Arthur’s Pass costs from NZ$192. Our tip: get off at Arthur’s Pass, hike, and catch the return train.

How do you plan a national park train vacation?

Book early, pick the right seats, and budget separately for park entry. Here’s what matters most:

• Booking windows:
  • Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska GoldStar: 6–12 months ahead.
  • Snowdon in summer, Machu Picchu morning trains and Glacier shuttle tickets (60-day window): weeks ahead.
  • End of the World Train in January–February or the July winter holidays: a few days to weeks ahead.
• Best seats:
  • Dome cars (GoldStar, GoldLeaf, Luxury Dome) earn their price on long scenic legs.
  • On short rides, open-window or open-air cars (Pullman, Gondola) are more fun.
• Park fees are usually separate:
  • US: the America the Beautiful pass is $80 for US residents and $250 for non-residents in 2026. At 11 parks, including Grand Canyon and Glacier, non-residents without the pass pay an extra $100 per person.
  • Argentina: Tierra del Fuego charges ARS 40,000 (general rate). The 50% second-day discount there applies only to tickets bought online; see our park tickets page.
• Inside the park: arriving by train means relying on shuttles (Grand Canyon, Glacier, Denali) or a guided tour (Tierra del Fuego). Check the shuttle hours against the train times.
• Luggage: day excursions have limited space. Long-distance trains (Amtrak, VIA, Alaska Railroad) have checked-baggage service at main stations.
• Accessibility: Cuyahoga, Grand Canyon and the End of the World Train all accommodate wheelchairs with advance notice. Mountain and rack railways vary.
• Eco angle: the Grand Canyon Railway’s own history page says the train keeps “approximately 50,000 cars outside of a national treasure”, and its fact sheet says more than 225,000 passengers a year (about 7% of annual South Rim visitation) arrive by rail. Rail generally has a lower carbon footprint per passenger than driving.
• Package or DIY:
  • Packages make sense for Rocky Mountaineer, Alaska and multi-park US trips.
  • Short park trains (Ushuaia, Cuyahoga, Kuranda, Snowdon) are easy to book yourself.
  • In Ushuaia, a combo tour solves the problem of getting from the end of the line to the rest of the park.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best national park train tour in the US?

The Grand Canyon Railway, because it takes you right into Grand Canyon Village in 2h15 from Williams, Arizona.

Which national park has a train inside it?

Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio) has a railroad running through it on NPS-owned track. Grand Canyon has a terminus inside the park. Outside the US, the End of the World Train runs into Tierra del Fuego National Park and the Snowdon Mountain Railway climbs inside Eryri.

Can you visit national parks without a car?

Yes. Grand Canyon, Glacier, Denali, Cuyahoga, Banff, Jasper and Tierra del Fuego all work by train plus shuttle or tour.

How much does a national park train tour cost?

Anywhere from about $25 (Cuyahoga) to over CAD $4,000 (Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf). Most day trips cost $60–$250 per adult.

Is the park entrance fee included in the train ticket?

Usually not. For the End of the World Train, the ARS 40,000 park fee is separate and mandatory. Check your US operator’s inclusions.

What’s the southernmost national park train?

The End of the World Train near Ushuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost operating railway.

When is the best time for train trips to national parks?

For northern-hemisphere parks, June–September, with shoulder months for lower fares. For Tierra del Fuego, November–March for long days, or winter for snow-covered steam.

Ready to ride to the end of the world? You’ve seen the world’s national park trains; now ride the southernmost one. A park and train tour combines the End of the World Train with a minibus to Lapataia Bay and Lake Acigami, so you see the whole park, not just the end of the line.